Dynamic inkjet nozzle flushing mechanism

Abstract

A method is disclosed. The method includes analyzing an image of a first flushing pattern applied on a medium during production of a print job to detect presence of one or more defective ink jet nozzles and adjusting to a second flushing pattern during the production of the print job upon detecting the presence of one or more defective print head nozzles.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A printing system comprising: a controller to combine a flushing pattern with print job data, analyze an image of the first flushing pattern applied on a medium during production of a print job to detect a presence of one or more defective ink jet nozzles and adjust the flushing pattern from the first flushing pattern to a second flushing pattern during the production of the print job upon detecting the presence of one or more defective ink jet nozzles. 
     
     
       2. The printing system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller selects the second flushing pattern from a flushing preference table. 
     
     
       3. The printing system of  claim 2 , wherein the second flushing pattern has a higher flushing frequency than the first flushing pattern. 
     
     
       4. The printing system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller reverts from the second flushing pattern back to the first flushing pattern during production of the print job. 
     
     
       5. The printing system of  claim 4 , wherein the reversion occurs after production of a predetermined number of sheets in the print job. 
     
     
       6. The printing system of  claim 4 , wherein the reversion occurs upon print production on a predetermined length of the medium. 
     
     
       7. The printing system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller rasterizes the print job data prior to combining the flushing pattern with print job data. 
     
     
       8. The printing system of  claim 7 , further comprising one or more print engines to apply the first flushing pattern to the medium. 
     
     
       9. The printing system of  claim 8 , wherein the controller combines the first flushing pattern with the rasterized print job data prior to the first flushing pattern being applied to the medium. 
     
     
       10. The printing system of  claim 9 , wherein the controller combines the first flushing pattern with the rasterized print job data prior to the first flushing pattern being applied to the medium applying. 
     
     
       11. The printing system of  claim 10 , further comprising a reader to capture the image of the first flushing pattern applied on the medium. 
     
     
       12. The printing system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more print engines apply the second flushing pattern on the medium upon detecting the presence of the one or more defective ink jet nozzles. 
     
     
       13. The printing system of  claim 12 , wherein the controller reverts from the second flushing pattern back to the first flushing pattern during production of the print job. 
     
     
       14. The printing system of  claim 13 , wherein the reversion occurs after production of a predetermined number of sheets in the print job. 
     
     
       15. The printing system of  claim 13 , wherein the reversion occurs upon print production on a predetermined length of the medium. 
     
     
       16. A printing system comprising:
 one or more print engines each having a plurality of ink jet nozzles to print a flushing pattern on a medium; and 
 a controller to combine a flushing pattern with print job data, analyze an image of the first flushing pattern applied on a medium during production of a print job to detect a presence of one or more defective ink jet nozzles and adjust the flushing pattern from the first flushing pattern to a second flushing pattern during the production of the print job upon detecting the presence of one or more defective ink jet nozzles. 
 
     
     
       17. The printing system of  claim 16 , wherein the controller selects the second flushing pattern from a flushing preference table. 
     
     
       18. The printing system of  claim 17 , wherein the second flushing pattern has a higher flushing frequency than the first flushing pattern. 
     
     
       19. The printing system of  claim 16 , wherein the controller rasterizes the print job data prior to combining the first flushing pattern with the rasterized print job data. 
     
     
       20. The printing system of  claim 19 , further comprising a reader to capture the image of the first flushing pattern on the medium.